Georg Tintner opts for the earliest version of the Symphony No. 1. The principal differences here are the finale, which brings angular writing and orchestration that is more radical than in the revisions. Tintner in his dedicated performance, with refined playing from the Scottish orchestra, amply justifies his choice, powerfully bringing out the bald originality of the writing. The generous makeweight also offers a rare text, a version of the slow movement of Symphony No. 3, which was composed in 1876. Again the intensity and refinement of the performance sustain the expansiveness compellingly. Clear, atmospheric sound, at once transparent and weighty in climaxes.

"The final two releases from this huge recording project are now available, and they continue to document performances of genuine stature. Tintner is a very understanding conductor of Bruckner, and he secures committed performances from the Scottish orchestra for these seldom-heard pieces­KThe Scottish orchestra plays responsively, and Tintner shows that he knows the craggy corners of Bruckner's writing in ways that elude most conductors. This recording-indeed, Tintner's entire Bruckner cycle-is highly recommended, not to mention that it comes at a low price."

"...Tintner's 55-minute reading of the First Symphony is as good a place to start with this amazing work as any, and perhaps better than most because it is a jump ahead of the competition. Almost everyone has agreed that in the case of this symphony Bruckner's first thoughts were his best, and here we have them in their purest form. Of course that would hardly be an advantage if this were a dull performance, but in fact it is charged with the veteran conductor's special kind of drama and grandeur.

"For Bruckner specialists Tintner's series has extraordinary value quite apart from the consistently high standards of performance. Fully abreast of Bruckner scholarship, Tintner recorded early versions of the First, Second, Third, and Eighth Symphonies, introducing these distinctive and valuable version of the low-cost field for the first time, and, as explained above, giving us the first recording of the true 1866 version of the First. He not only recorded the unnumbered symphonies (F-Minor, and the early D-Minor, nicknamed 'Die Nullte' by Bruckner) but played them so persuasively as to convince us they belong in the canon.

"A gifted writer, Tintner drew on his scholarship as well as his conduction to produce a superior set of notes for the entire series, equally interesting for their accurate information and bold opinions."

Stephen Pettitt, August 2000

"This is the first recording of Bruckner's first score for his First Symphony. The first three movements vary little in comparison with the final published version, but the finale is a different matter, with whole chunks that are unfamiliar. Here it comes across as brash, young man's music, with odd exploratory passages recalling the harmonic adventures of Berlioz or Liszt, though the path to those great edifices of granite that close later Bruckner works is already clear. The performance is excellent, though occasionally, at moments of high exposure, the upper string tone falters. The late Georg Tintner lends an impressive richness and clarity to the texture: his pacing and phrasing have a natural easiness. A recently discovered version of the Adagio of the Third Symphony makes a fascinating filler."

"This is the last of Georg Tintner's Bruckner recordings for Naxos, and it's one of the best. In fact, there isn't anything in this performance that Tintner does wrong...so effortless is Tintner's command of Bruckner's sense of scale and pacing. The recent, tragic death of this fine artist was a loss to music lovers everywhere, but in consistently fulfilling the very special promise of his Bruckner recordings for Naxos, he has left us an enduring musical testament that will keep his memory and work alive for generations. And that is cause for celebration, which I am sure is how Tintner himself would have wanted it. Listen, and enjoy!"